Catches



Filed Sept. 23, 1963 y 11, 1965 c. s. GEHRIE 3,183,029

CATCHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 EFIGJ INVENTOR. CHARLES S- GEHR E ATTORNEY C. S. GEHRIE May 11, 1965 CATCHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 23, 1963 INVENTOR. CHARLES S. GEHFUE:

. CATCHES Charles S. Gehrie, Montclair, N.J., assignor to Presto Lock Co., Inc., Garfield, N.J., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 310,698 8 Claims. (Cl. 292-302) The invention relates to improvements in catches of the type used for separably connecting the halves of a hinged case.

For lightweight cases, such as used to contain portable typewriters, musical instruments or the like, it is desired that the catch possess a character which befits the case upon which it is mounted; that is, a catch which is small, of comparatively light weight and which is of esthetically pleasing appearance. Nevertheless, it is desired that the catch be capable of withstanding continued use without losing its effectiveness to properly separably connect the halves of the case. Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a novel catch construction which is small, of light weight and pleasing appearance which however, furnishes longer eliective operating life than would be expected-from a catch of such light weight, minimal dimensions and seeming fragility. A catch normally deteriorates in use and loses its effectiveness when the catch and hasp members thereof are not in alignment, a condition which frequenly occurs with continued use of the case upon which components of the catch are mounted. It is an object of the invention to provide a catch which is constructed to align and maintain in alignment the catch and hasp members thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a catch of the type under consideration which is of the ejecting yp These, and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a catch made in accordance with the invention, the catch member and hasp member of which are shown in their separated condition;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the catch member as viewed in the direction of the arrows 22 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the underside of the catch, this view showing the catch and hasp members separably connected to one another;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, this view however showing the relationship of the catch and hasp members at a stage just prior to their being separably connected, this view also showing the relationship of the parts at a stage when the catch and hasp members are being disconnected;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hasp member, this view also showing the resilient means which may be assembled with the hasp member when it is desired that the catch include ejection means; and FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing in perspective the several parts of the catch member. Referring to the drawings, a catch made in accordance with the invention generally comprises a catch member A and a hasp member B. The catch member comprises a catch body 10, a catch plate 12, resilient means 14 and catch plate actuating means 16.

The catch body 10 is formed to provide an extension 18 projecting from a side thereof. As will be subsequently explained, the extension 18 provides or functions as a dowel in that it acts to align the catch and hasp members as they are being connected to one another, and

3,183,029 Patented May 1 I 1965 to maintain or rigidity the assembly of connected members. The catch plate 12 is mounted in the catch body for movement with respect thereto. The catch plate is resiliently mounted and has an extension 20 projecting from a side thereof. This extension is located adjacent the catch body extension 18 and lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the catch body extension. The catch plate extension 20 is formed to provide means 22 for separably connecting the catch member A to the hasp member B.

Such means is preferably in the form of a notch which imparts a hook-like character to the catch plate extension. The catch plate actuating means 16 is mounted forrmovement with respect to the catch body 10 and is connected to the catch plate 12 so that movement of the catch plate actuating means results in movement of the catch plate with respect to the catch body. The catch plate actuating means is intended for manual manipulation and may be termed a puller, though its movement may be accomplished by pushing action. The resilient means or spring 14 is operative upon the puller so that the catch plate 12 connected thereto is urged to a position wherein the catch plate extension 20 is laterally offset from the catch body extension 18. The resilient means allows the extent of lateral offset of the catch plate extension 20 with respect to the catch body extension 18 to be changed or reduced.

The hasp member B comprises a hasp body 24 which has an opening 26 in a side thereof, such side being located to face the side of the match member from which the catch body and catch plate extensions project. An edge 27 of the wall which defines a side of the opening may furnish means for cooperation with the notch 22 on the catch plate to maintain the catch and hasp members in releasably connected condition upon-bringing the members into immediate adjacency and latched condition as shown in FIG. 4. Moving the puller 16 against the force exerted by resilient means 14 causes the catch plate extension 20 to be unhooked from the hasp member and allows the catch and haspinembers to be separated.

It is preferred to include resilient means 28 within the hasp member so that with' the catch and hasp members connected to one another, retraction of the puller and the associated catch plate will cause the catch member to be ejected by or propelled away from the hasp member. Such resilient or ejection means is preferably in the form of a leaf spring as illustrated.

The catch member A is provided with spaced means 30, 30', preferably in the form of a pair of apertures and similarly the hasp member B is provided with spaced means 32, ,32' also preferably a pair of spaced apertures to allow connecting means suchas rivets to be extended therethrough to enable fastening the two parts of the catch to the respective halves of the case.

In greater detail, and in accordance with the preferred and illustrated form of the invention, the catch body 10 is substantially rectangular in shape and comprises a top wall 34, opposite longitudinally extending side walls 36, 36' and opposite end walls 38,38 depending or extending downwardly from the top wall. The catch body extension 18 is made as an integral part of the catch body and as best shown in FIG. 7 is made to extend from the top wall 34. As illustrated, the extension 18 is formed so that the free or nose end thereof is shaped to provide a lead-in or camming portion. Preferably, the extensions free end is formed to provide a radius as by giving it a semi-circular contour. The extension 18 issituated 'midway between the sides 38, 38' of the piece. As shown in FIG. 2, the side wall 36' is provided with a cut-out or opening 39, such opening having a width which is greater than the width of the extension 18 below which the opening is situated.

-As shown in FIG. 7, substantially centrally of the catch body a longitudinal slot 40 is provided, the slot constituting an aperture formed to extend through the top wall 34. Also, an upstanding lug 42 is struck up from the top wall to furnish a bearing for one end of the spring 14. The various described portions of the catch body are most readily obtained in manufacture by blanking, piercing and stamping the piece from a suitable metal such as steel in strip form.

The catch plate 12 is generally rectangular except for the hook-shaped extension 20 extending from one side or edge thereof. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the catch plate has a width slightly less than the distance between the side walls 36 and 36 of the catch body 10. The catch plate when assembled with the catch body is confined for longitudinal and sliding movement on the underside of the wall 34 of the catch body. Preferably, and as shown in FIG. 7, the catch plate is provided with an opening 44 extending therethrough to enable connection of the puller 16 thereto, as will subsequently be described. Except for the notch 22, the extension 20 has the same general outline and essentially the same dimensions as the catch body extension 18. Like the catch body extension, the catch plate extension is provided with a convexly shaped free end or nose portion, such contour also preferably being semi-circular as illustrated. As will subsequently be explained, the contour of both the extensions 18 and 2t furnish a camming action which assures proper alignment and connection of the catch and hasp members. The catch plate also is preferably made by blanking, piercing and stamping.

As shown in FIG. 7, the puller 16 is provided on the underside thereof with a recess or cavity 46 to house the resilient means 14 which is preferably in the form of a helically coiled compression spring. The cavity extends longitudinally of the piece and is located off center near one side thereof. Depending downwardly, substantially centrally of the puller, a guiding and connecting stud 48 is provided. The stud has greater length and width and is adapted to be extended through the slot 40 in the catch body and through the aperture 44 in the catch plate 12. The dimensions of the stud are such that it extends through the slot 40 with a slight amount of clearance on the sides thereof. The stud is, of course, substantially shorter in length than the length of the slot 40. The stud however, is only slightly smaller than the opening 44 in the catch plate in cross-sectional dimensions. The puller is preferably made by die-casting.

The parts of the catch member A are assembled by positioning the catch plate 12 on the underside of the top wall 34 of the catch body. The compression spring 14 is positioned in the recess 46 of the puller 16 and the puller with the spring is then mounted on the top wall 34 of the catch body with one end of the spring bearing against the upstanding lug 42. The opposite end of the spring bears against the end shoulder 50 (FIG. 7) of the recess. The stud 48 extends through the guide slot 40 in the catch body and through the aperture 44 in the catch plate. The free end 52 of the stud is then struck or swaged over with a suitable tool to complete the connection of the parts.

The parts of the catch member are dimensioned and related to one another so that when thus assembled, and without any force applied to the spring mounted puller and its associated catch plate, the catch plate extension 20 is related to the catch body extension 18 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. As shown, the catch plate extension 20 is laterally offset from the catch body extension 18. Their combined and overall width is normally greater than the width of the opening 26 in the hasp member B. When pressure is applied to the puller 16 in the direction indicated by the arrow X (FIG. 1), the extent of the lateral offset of the extensions and their combined overall width may be reduced to the extent that the extension 20 may be in alignment with the fixed extension 18. In

any event, the compression spring 14 allows the combined and overall width of the extensions to be reduced to a dimension which allows their entry into the opening 26 of the hasp member.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the hasp member B is preferably made with a rear side wall 54, and a front side wall 54' through which the central opening 26 extends. The hasp member body is also provided with end walls 56, 56' so that the free bottom edges of these walls all lie in the same plane for abutment against a luggage case half to which the part is secured, as by rivets extended through the openings 32, 32. The hasp body is preferably provided with a recess 58 on its underside, which recess is in communication with the opening 26. The part is preferably contoured to provide an integral upstanding portion 60 (the recess 58 being beneath such portion), which is of substantially the same configuration and dimensions as the puller 16. In fact, the hasp member B preferably has substantially the same outline and dimensions as the catch member, the integral projecting portion 60, though not movable, being located on the hasp member in the same relative position as the puller 16 is located with respect to the catch member. This will be apparent from the showing of FIG. 1. As a result, a symmetrical and pleasing appearance is furnished by the catch.

Although not essential to the invention, it is preferred that the hasp member include ejecting means to facilitate the separation of the catch and hasp members. For this purpose, a generally U-shaped leaf spring 28 is positioned in the recess 58 as best shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. One arm 61 of the spring abuts the rear wall 54 and the end of the other arm 61' engages the front Wall 54' at a point transversely spaced from the edge 28. The leaf spring is maintained in the recess by a tang 62 which extends from the wall 54, the tang being bent over to lie in a plane at right angles to the plane of the wall. In order to maintain the planar continuity of the free edges of the hasp members side and end walls, the side wall 54 may be notched adjacent the tang 62 (FIG. 6).

A catch made in accordance with the invention operates as follows: When the operating sides of the catch and hasp members A and B are brought together, the extension 18 which is fixed to the catch body enters the opening 26 in the hasp member engaging, if there is misalignment in such plane, the edge 64 which defines this side of the opening. The lead-in or convexity at the free end or nose portion of the extension assures that the rigid extension 18 will extend through the aperture 26 should there be such form of misalignment or play in the hinged case halves to which the catch and hasp members are secured. At the same time, the catch plate extension 20 passes into the opening 26. As shown in FIG. 5, the free end of the extension 20 engages the edge 27 of the hasp wall 54' and is automatically cammed to the left or in the direction of the arrow X. This action takes place, of course, because the catch plate 12 of which the extension 20 is a part is resiliently mounted in a manner which permits such movement. As this action takes place, the fixed extension 18 acts as a dowel to maintain the relationship of the catch member and the hasp member in proper alignment. If the extension 18 does not bear against the edge 64 initially, the pressure upon the extension 20 by the edge 27 causes the extension 18 to bear against the edge 64, thereby furnishing a support for the incoming catch means. Further movement together of the catch and hasp members causes the catch plate 12 to move further to the left or in the direction of the arrow X until the shoulder defining the notch is beyond the inside surface of the wall 54, whereupon the catch plate is caused by the spring 14 to move or snap over to the right in a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow Y. As a result, the extension 20 is firmly hooked over the edge 27 of the wall as shown in FIG. 4. The dowel extension 18 rigidifies the assembled catch and hasp members.

To disengage or separate the catch and hasp members, the puller 16 is moved against the action of the spring 14 whereupon the extension 20 is retracted to a position enabling the hook portion thereof to clear the edge 27 and the catch and hasp members are allowed to be separated. Where, as preferred, the hasp member includes the leaf spring 28, movement of the puller to retract the catch plate sufficiently results in the spring arm 61 (which was placed in compression when the members were connected) exerting its resilient force upon the extensions of the catch member to forcibly propel the catch member away from the hasp member.

It is believed that the advantages and improved results furnished by the structure of a catch made in accordance with the invention will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a catch, a catch member for separable connection to a hasp member, said catch member comprising a catch body having a top wall and opposite, longitudinally extending side walls projecting downwardly from the top wall, an extension projecting from a side of the top wall to provide a dowel, a catch plate positioned on the underside of said top wall intermediate said side walls for longitudinal movement with respect to the catch body, said catch plate having an extension projecting from a side thereof adjacent and underlying said catch body extension, said catch plate extension lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the catch body extension, said catch body extension and catch plate extension having the same general outline with their free ends formed to provide camming means for cooperation with a hasp member, the catch plate extension being provided with a notch for separably connecting the catch member to a hasp member, a puller positioned on said top wall for longitudinal movement with respect to said catch body, means extending through said top wall fixedly connecting the puller to the catch plate, resilient means cooperable with the catch body and the puller normally urging the catch plate to a position wherein the catch plate extension is laterally offset from the catch body extension, said resilient means allowing the extent of lateral offset of the catch plate extension with respect to the catch body extension to be reduced.

2. In a catch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means extending through the top wall fixedly connecting the puller to the catch plate comprises a stud depending from the puller, and wherein the stud extends through a longitudinally extending guide slot formed in the catch body.

3. In combination, a catch member and a hasp member, said catch member comprising a catch body having a top wall and opposite, longitudinally extending side walls projecting downwardly from the top wall, an extension projecting from a side of the top wall to provide a dowel, a catch plate positioned on the underside of said top wall intermediate said side walls for longitudinal movement with respect to the catch body, said catch plate having an extension projecting from a side thereof adjacent and underlying said catch body extension, said catch plate extension lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the catch body extension, said catch body extension and catch plate extension having the same general outline with their free ends formed to provide camming means for cooperation with a hasp member, the catch plate extension being provided With a notch for separably connecting the catch member to the hasp member, a puller positioned on said top wall for longitudinal movement with respect to said catch body, means extending through said top wall fixedly connecting the puller to the catch plate, resilient means cooperable with the catch body and the puller normally urging the catch plate to a position wherein the catch plate extension is laterally ofiset from the catch body extension, said resilient means allowing the extent of lateral ofiset of the catch plate extension with respect to the catch body extension to be reduced, said hasp member comprising a hasp body having a side thereof through which an opening extends, said opening having a width less than the normal combined width of said laterally oifset extensions, said resilient means allowing entry of both extensions through said opening, an edge of the wall defining said opening being received in said notch when the catch and hasp members are connected. i

4. In the combination set forth in claim 3, a catch body and a hasp body of substantially the same outline and dimensions and wherein the hasp body is formed with a projecting portion of substantially the same outline and dimensions as the puller.

5. In the combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein the means extending through the top Wall fixedly connecting the puller to the catch plate comprises a stud depending from the puller, and wherein the stud extends through a longitudinally extending guide slot formed in the catch body.

6. In a catch, a catch member for separable connection to a hasp member, said catch member comprising a catch body having an extension projecting from a side thereof to provide a dowel, said catch body having an upstanding lug, a catch plate mounted in the catch body for longitudinal movement with respect thereto, said catch plate having an extension projecting from a side thereof adjacent and underlying said catch body extension, said catch plate extension lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the catch body extension, said catch body extension and catch plate extension having the same general outline with their free ends formed to provide camming means for cooperation with .a hasp member, the catch plate extension being provided with a notch for separably connecting the catch member to a hasp member, a puller mounted on the catch body for longitudinal movement with respect thereto, said puller having a recess on its underside, means extending through the catch body fixedly connecting the puller to the catch plate, a compression spring positioned in the recess having one end bearing against a shoulder provided by the recess and its other end bearing against said lug tonormally urge the catch plate to a position wherein the catch plate extension is laterally oifset from the catch body extension, said resilient means allowing the extent of lateral offset of the catch plate extension with respect to the catch body extension to be reduced.

7. In combination, a catch member and a hasp member, said catch member comprising a catch body having an extension projecting from a side thereof to provide a dowel, a catch plate mounted in the catch body for longitudinal movement with respect thereto, said catch plate having an extension projecting from a side thereof adjacent and underlying said catch body extension, said catch plate extension lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the catch body extension, said catch body extension and catch plate extension having the same general outline with their free ends formed to provide camming means for cooperation with a hasp member, the catch plate extension being provided with a notch for separably connecting the catch member to the hasp member, a puller mounted on the catch body for longitudinal movement with respect thereto, means extending through the catch body fixedly connecting the puller to the catch plate, resilient means cooperable with the catch body and the puller normally urging the catch plate to a position wherein the catch plate extension is laterally offset from the catch body extension, said resilient means allowing the extent of lateral offset of the catch plate extension with respect to the catch body extension to be reduced, said hasp member comprising a hasp body having a side thereof through which an opening extends, said hasp body having a recess in communication with the opening, said opening having a width less than the normal combined Width of said laterally offset extensions, said resilient means allowing entry of both extensions through said opening, an edge of the wall defining said opening being received in said notch when the catch and hasp members are connected, and resilient means positioned in said hasp body recess engageable by said extensions for propelling the catch member away from the hasp member.

8. In combination, a catch member and a hasp member, said catch member comprising a catch body having an extension projecting from a side thereof to provide a dowel, said catch body having an upstanding lug, a catch plate mounted in the catch body for longitudinal movement with respect thereto, said catch plate having an extension projecting from a side thereof adjacent and underlying said catch body extension, said catch plate extension lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the catch body extension, said catch body extension and catch plate extension having the same general outline with their free ends formed to provide camming means for cooperation with a hasp member, the catch plate extension being provided with a notch for separably connecting the catch member to the hasp member, a puller mounted on the catch body for longitudinal movement with respect thereto, said puller having a recess on its underside, means extending through the catch body fixedly connecting the puller to the catch plate, a compression spring positioned in the recess having one end bearing against a shoulder provided by the recess and its other end bearing against said lug, resilient means cooperable with the catch body and the puller to normally urge the catch plate to a position wherein the catch plate extension is laterally offset from the catch body extension, said resilient means allowing the extent of lateral offset of the catch plate extension with respect to the catch body extension to be reduced, said hasp member comprising a hasp body having a side thereof through which an opening extends, said opening having a width less than the normal combined width of said laterally offset extensions, said resilient means allowing entry of both extensions through said opening, an edge of the wall defining said opening being received in said notch when the catch and hasp members are connected.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 786,095 3/05 Brining et al, 292302 1,854,576 4/32 Blue.

FOREIGN PATENTS 558,636 3/57 Italy.

M. HENSON WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A CATCH, A CATCH MEMBER FOR SEPARABLE CONNECTION TO A HASP MEMBER, SAID CATCH MEMBER COMPRISING A CATCH BODY HAVING A TOP WALL AND OPPOSITE, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SIDE WALLS PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE TOP WALL, AN EXTENSION PROJECTING FROM A SIDE OF THE TOP WALL TO PROVIDE A DOWEL, A CATCH PLATE POSITIONED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID TOP WAL INTERMEDIATE SAID SIDE WALLS FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE CATCH BODY, SAID CATCH PLATE HAVING AN EXTENSION PROJECTING FROM A SIDE THEREOF ADJACENT AND UNDERLYING SAID CATCH BODY EXTENSION, SAID CATCH PLATE EXTENSION LYING IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF THE CATCH BODY EXTENSION, SAID CATCH BODY EXTENSION AND CATCH PLATE EXTENSION HAVING THE SAME GENERAL OUTLINE WITH THEIR FREE ENDS FORMED TO PROVIDE CAMMING MEANS FOR COOPERATION WITH A HASP MEMBER, THE CATCH PLATE EXTENSION BEING PROVIDED WITH A NOTCH FOR SEPARABLY CONNECTING THE CATCH MEMBER TO A HASP MEMBER, A PULLER POSITIONED ON SAID TOP WALL FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID CATCH BODY, MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID TOP WALL FIXEDLY CONNECTING THE PULLER TO THE CATCH PLATE, RESILIENT MEANS COOPERABLE WITH THE CATCH BODY AND THE PULLER NORMALLY URGING THE CATCH PLATE TO A POSITION WHEREIN THE CATCH PLATE EXTENSION IS LATERALLY OFFSET FROM THE CATCH BODY EXTENSION, SAID RESILIENT MEANS ALLOWING THE EXTENT OF LATERAL OFFSET OF THE CATCH PLATE EXTENSION WITH RESPECT TO THE CATCH BODY EXTENSION TO BE REDUCED. 